Folding box



(No Model.)

W. L. su A. HBNSBL.

POLDING BOX.

No. 561,708. Y Patented June 9, 1896.

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ANDREW AGEANAM FNOTD-LITRO.UWASKHIIYIIJNA D C UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE@ lWILLIAM L. HENSEL AND ALBERT HENSEL, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,708, dated June 9, 1896.

Application' filed April 9, 1896, Serial No. 586,777. (Nohnodel.)

Vbox Whose sides and ends are securely held together when in use, and one which may be folded into a neat small parcel when not in use for convenience in carrying.

Our invention comprises, generally stated, a foldingbox having side and end pieces hinged to a bottom piece, said end pieces having staples or eyelets projecting out therefrom, ilaps on said side pieces at the ends thereof, said ilaps having openings therein engaging said staples or eyelets, and a band or strap secured to said end pieces and passing through said staples or eyelets, whereby said side and end pieces are securely held together.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, We will describe the saine more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is. a perspective view of our iniproved folding box when in use. Fig. 2 is a like view of saine folded. Fig. 3 is a plan,

view of the box spread out.

Like letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The box maybe constructed of any suitable material-such as tin, paper, ne-butwe prefer to employ a stid cardboard coated with shellac or other preservative composition, which will protect it from the action of rain or snow. This cardboard when thus coated has a glossy finish, which adds to the appearance of the box.

The box when spread out, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of the bottom u., the side pieces b, the end pieces c, and the flaps d. The bottom, side pieces, end pieces, and naps may all be connected together by suitable hingestraps e, which form hinges to permit of the folding of said parts together, as hereinafter set forth. The end pieces c have the staples or other guides f secured thereto and extending from the outer faces thereof. The daps LZ on the side pieces l) have the openings g formed therein. Attached to the end pieces o are the bands or straps 7i 71,'.

`lVhen the box is in use, the staples f on the end pieces c pass through the openings g in the flaps, while the straps h h pass up through the staples f. These straps 7L YL' engage with buckles fr' on the handle-strap t', which has the handle v? secured thereto. The cover l: is held securely in place by means of the straps h 7L and the handle-strap i'. In this manner the sides and ends of the box are securely held together, so that a rigid structure is obtained and liability of the falling in of the sides or ends is avoided. At the saine time a convenient handle is obtained for the box.

"When it is desired to fold the box, it is done in the following manner: The straps h 7i. are disengaged from the buckles land also from the staples f, whereupon the side pieces b and end pieces c are free to be folded down upon the bottom a, the daps d being also folded in on the sides b. The folded parts can then be placed in the cover 7o, and the straps h h are connected again to the buckles 'i of the handlestrap i. The folded box contained Within the cover 7tinay be carried by means of the handle i2, or, if desired, may be inserted in a pocket.

As hereinbefore stated, such a box forms a convenient lunch-box, as it is light and compact, and when not containing food may be folded up in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

lVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A box composed of folding sides and ends, staples in said ends, flaps on said sides having openings therein adapted to receive said staples, and straps on said ends passing up through said staples, substantially as set forth.

2. A box composed of folding sides and ends, staples in said ends, flaps on said sides having openings therein adapted to receive said staples, straps on said ends passing up through said staples, a cover, and a handle-strap with Which said straps are connected, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof We, the said WILLIAM L. I-IENsEL and ALBERT HENsEL, have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM L. HENSEL. ALBERT HENSEL. lVitnesses:

RoB'r. D. Torrini, .loi-IN N. DUNN. 

